Resources

What We Believe

What We Believe

"There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)

In non-essential beliefs -- we have liberty.

"Accept (others in their faith), without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God."Romans 14:1-22 (NIV)

In all our beliefs -- we show charity.

"If I ... can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV)

THE ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE:

ABOUT GOD

We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons- the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- each of whom possess equally all the attributes of deity. God created everything out of nothing and by His sovereign power continues to sustain all things. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is entirely originated with God and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Scripture speaks, at the same time, with the authority of God while also reflecting the backgrounds, styles, and vocabulary of the human authors. The Scriptures are inspired by God, and are without error. They are the unique, full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God. He is fully human and can identify with our needs and struggles, yet fully God, and therefore able to save us from sin. He is equal to the Father. He lived a sinless life of perfect obedience to the will of the Father and voluntarily offered Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. After three days He arose from the dead and thereby demonstrated His power over sin and death. He ascended into heaven and will return again someday to earth, personally and visibly, in order to consummate history and the eternal plan of God.

ABOUT SALVATION

The central purpose of God's revelation is to call humanity into relationship and fellowship with Himself. All people were originally created to have fellowship with God, but they defied and rebelled against God, choosing their independent way, and have, therefore, been alienated from God. This fall into sin has resulted in the corruption of the human nature and the need for saving grace. Salvation is the free gift of grace available to all people. It is not earned through a life of good works, religious involvement, or self-improvement. Only by trusting in Christ and personally appropriating this gift through faith can one find forgiveness from sin and eternal life. God wishes all to be saved and is grieved when people go against His will and reject Him. He has, however, sovereignly chosen to give every person a free will and will not force anyone to believe in Him or follow Him. When God has begun a saving work in a person's heart, and as they follow the Scriptural admonitions to abide in Christ and persevere in their faith, God gives the assurance of His presence and power.

ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, indwells everyone who accepts Jesus Christ into their lives. We are then shaped by the Holy Spirit to live lives of growing godly character. This character development is a gradual process and will not be completed in this life, yet our consistent progress should be evident to those around us. The Holy Spirit shows us the areas of our lives that hinder our relationship with Him or with other people, and He gives the direction and power we need to move towards positive change in our lives. He helps us exchange hurtful habits for helpful habits and makes us more like Christ. The result of allowing God to shape our lives and develop within us a growing godly character is greater joy, freedom, peace, and fulfillment.

ABOUT ETERNITY

People were created to live forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. After death there will be a resurrection of the body so that each person can stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Here the eternal destiny of each individual will be determined. Unbelievers will be separated from God. Believers will be received into eternal communion with God and will be rewarded for the good works they have done in the name of Christ.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

When a person is united with Jesus Christ by faith they become members of His body, the church. There is one true universal church comprised of all who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Scripture directs all believers to gather together to devote themselves to worship, prayer, the teaching of God's Word, to observe communion and baptism, fellowship, service to and through the church with the use of one's talents and gifts, and outreach to the world. Under the care of the church leadership, the church's members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the one ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.